Joseph Gordon-Levitt In Talks To Star In Adaptation Of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, May Also Direct

This was a big year for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as the former child actor successfully stepped behind the camera for the first time to make his feature writing-directing debut, Don Jon. The movie got a solid reception from critics, and made a good chunk of change at the box office, but most importantly it established Gordon-Levitt as a triple threat. Ever since the film was completed we've wondered what his follow-up would be, and today we seem to have an answer - and it's quite the major step.

Deadline is now finalizing a deal that will see him produce, star in and possibly direct an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's legendary comic series Sandman. The star's name was first mentioned in connection with the project late last month, but now it seems that not only has that rumor been confirmed but that Gordon-Levitt's association with the development has only grown stronger. David Goyer, the writer of Man of Steel who just worked out a contract with Warner Bros. allowing him to develop smaller DC Comics properties, is producing the feature with Gordon-Levitt and they will be moving forward based on a pitch that he wrote.

Based on the comic book series that Gaiman first started writing back in 1989, Sandman follows the story of Morpheus, the personification of dreams. Due to an occult ritual he is held prisoner for 70 years, but after escaping and getting vengeance against those who kidnapped him he sets his sights on rebuilding his fallen kingdom. The source material has been floating around Hollywood for years, but has always struggled in development hell. Before Goyer set his sights on the comic there was talk that Matthew Vaughn was interested in the directing gig, but that never came to be.

Not only does Gordon-Levitt already has some experience in the comic book adaptation world, starring in both Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises and Robert Rodriguez's upcoming Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, he also regularly finds himself right at the heart of superhero movie rumors. In the last year alone he has been reportedly looking at parts in Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange and Ant-Man. If he does in fact wind up making Sandman that would probably severely reduce any chance that we would ever get to see him in a Marvel movie.

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